March 7, 2017

I offer my series of “Eternal Truths,” signed original digital art prints, because it is time to affirm the fundamental values that unite all of humanity.

“LOVE” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“WISDOM” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“HOPE” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“PEACE” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“JOY” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“CREATIVITY” by Kevin L Miller, 2016

“Truth” by Kevin L Miller, 2017

“GRATITUDE” by Kevin L Miller, 2017

“ETERNITY” by Kevin L Miller, 2017

The “Eternal Truths Series” of original digital art prints are available as a set of 5″ x 7″ signed prints in an 18″ x 24″ frame, or as signed individual prints – 5″x 7″ or 8″x 10″ or 13″x19″ all printed on heavy glossy photo paper.

April 5, 2015

Art by Kevin L Miller

Here are some images from “Let’s Save Our Pretty Pretty Planet!” an art exhibit at Manheim Township Public Library, April 1 – May 29, 2015. Drive one mile north of Rt 30 on Fruitville Pike, turn right on Granite Run Drive at the Overlook Park Sign to 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Call the library at 717-560-6441 to ask if the Morgan Center (Kevin’s show) will be occupied or open to the public when you plan to visit, but Robert F. Allen and Kevin L Miller are exhibiting 65 – 70 major works of art throughout the entire library. Half of those will remain in place after May 29. When you visit, ask library director Katrina Anderson for a free signed poster, “Art Can Help Us!”

February 28, 2015

by Kevin L. Miller

above: “The Tipping Point,” digital poster by Kevin L Miller, 2015

In his wonderful blog post “GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: How Optimistic Are You When It Comes to Climate Change?” Feb 27, 2015, at http://TwoOldLiberals.com , Paul Lewis expressed the way so many of us, including me, feel about our prospects for addressing the existential threat of global warming: “If you’re like me, you oscillate back and forth between depression and a guarded though still hopeful optimism when it comes to global climate change.” Paul recaps five hopeful trends reported in the Environmental Defense Fund’s “Solutions” magazine article, “A Plan for Climate Stability:”

The November China/USA plan to limit global warming pollutants

10 years of industrial emissions decline

A strong increase in clean energy adoption

The existence of cheap technology to cut methane emissions by 40%

Overwhelming support for climate action among young voters

It may be more than the young who support climate action according to a striking 2015 poll published in the New York Times about a month ago. The New York Times / Stanford University / Resources for the Future poll was conducted January 7-22 with 1006 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. The New York Times reported:

“The poll found that 83% of Americans, including 61% of Republicans and 86% of independents say that if nothing is done to reduce emissions, global warming will be a very or somewhat serious problem in the future.”

77% of Americans say that the Federal government should be doing a substantial amount to combat climate change — 90% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and 48% of Republicans said the government should be fighting climate change.

These results can be compared with Stanford University’s 2011 poll that asked if people believed climate change was caused by human activity. In 2011 72% believed that it was at least in part due to human activity. In this new poll 81% felt that it was. That’s a leap of nine percentage points in four years. If you believe that mass social and behavioral change of the magnitude required by this climate crisis must proceed largely from the grass roots up, then you will feel heartened, as I do, to know that we seem to be approaching a tipping point.

You know what a “tipping point” is: In chemistry, we know that some liquids will suddenly turn solid by adding the right catalyst. But we wonder how much catalyst is required. So we start adding the catalyst drop by drop until, BOOM! Suddenly the liquid turns solid! The same thing can happen with mass consciousness. We may be very close to the day when one more person will wake up to the moral imperative to take action on climate change, and BOOM! Mass consciousness will be solidly united in demanding that governments, corporations, the fossil fuel industry, all sectors of business, and all individual human beings make the changes required to arrest and reverse global warming.

My tipping point optimism may seem like a fantasy to many people. It is partly based in a current practical example that proves the possibility of unlikely sudden change in mass consciousness. My wonderful, talented, handsome partner Robert and I have lived together for over 18 years, and until very recently we would never have dared to imagine that we might be able to become legally married. But it happened last June. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made same-sex marriage legal and we were wed by an ordained minister of the faith in which I was raised, in the best and most fun wedding either of us has ever attended. If you had told us just a year earlier that this would happen, we would have said you were crazy. It became possible because mass consciousness reached a tipping point on the issue of same-sex marriage. Public policy can shift and group behavior can change direction very suddenly, like a flock of birds, when just enough catalyst is added to change one more mind.

“The Revelations of Eve and Adam,” 16″x20″ acrylic on canvas by Kevin L Miller, 2003 – poster produced in 2015

In his insightful Feb 27, 2015 “GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS” post on http://TwoOldLiberals.com Paul Lewis also recaps the Environmental Defense Fund’s recommendations for ways in which we can all help combat climate change:

Make your home as energy-efficient as possible. (I’d add your work place, too.)

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Buy gas efficient vehicles, walk, bike, and take public transportation.

Wash dishes/clothes in cold or warm water — not hot. (I’d add: use a clothesline.)

Paul is absolutely right to point out that EDF has neglected to mention the imperative of population control in combating climate change. The Earth is grievously overpopulated and buckling under our weight. We must adopt zero population growth behaviors — no couple should have more than two children. But we must also reduce the population of domesticated animals — a huge factor in our collective carbon footprint. One of the most effective things anyone can do, therefore, to combat climate change, is to become a vegetarian or vegan, or at least make the effort to eat less meat and fewer dairy products. Even if we all eliminated meat from our diets for just one or two days a week, it would make a huge difference.

The main suggestion I’d like to add to the list of ways everyone can help, is just that we all consider becoming willing to talk about global warming openly, and do something — anything — about it. Let’s all ask ourselves three questions:

What CAN I do?

What am I WILLING to do?

What am I QUALIFIED to do?

Make a list of actions that fit all three criteria and then choose some of those things to do, and start… one step at a time. TELL others about what you have decided to do and why. How can we begin to feel more optimistic about stopping global warming?… By taking creative action… By adding more catalyst to the solution, drop by drop, until one more drop finally brings mass consciousness to the tipping point and humanity suddenly lines up solidly behind the moral imperative to stop climate change for the children of tomorrow.

April 22, 2013

Rev. Jerry Lee Miller emceed “Healing Earth Pain Through the Arts,” Earth Day Weekend, April 20, 2013, at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, hosted by HIVE of Planet Loving Activity (see the HIVE Facebook page.) Above Jerry plays his harmonica during the Streetbeet’s benediction performance of his composition, “The Earth is a House.” Participants’ thoughts, prayers and haiku written on colored papers, hang in tree branches. They blow in the breeze to spread the messages of Earth healing into the world.

On a beautiful fresh spring day after a night of sweet rain, about 25 souls greeted each other and gathered in the sunlit sanctuary of the Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster to listen to the sweet music of Streetbeets (Jerry Lee Miller, Paul Montigny, Kati “Kanga” Gruber, and Tom Tucker;) to repeat affirmations and meditate silently together; to melt into the melodious poetry of Chris Hoover Seidel; to thrill with the excitement of the danced and chanted performance piece offered by Kesse Humphreys; and to wonder about the mysteries pictured in Kevin Miller’s large paintings. We laughed, cried, prayed, listened, chanted, spoke, danced, talked and shared ideas. Then we all wrote poems, prayers, haiku, thoughts, laments, and intentions on pieces of colored paper and moved into the garden to hang them in a young tree, allowing the wind to blow our hopes for earth healing into the world. Four of the writers keep their thoughts private. The rest are copied here in bold italic among the photos of that day:

COLORED PAPER MESSAGES HANGING IN THE TREE OF HOPES AND BLESSINGS (shown in bold italics throughout the photo essay — contributed by all the participants at “Healing Earth Pain Through the Arts”)

Kevin invites the group to repeat an affirmation, followed by a brief period of silent meditation.

I hope for a healing for myself and the Earth. To deal in hope and inspiration not despair and destruction. To remember the trail magic I experienced and take that into the world. To sing. To dance. To love the stories.

Kevin talks about creative action as a way of seeing, knowing, being, and healing. We are here to collaborate in “Healing Earth Pain” — our own pain as we move through life on this Earth, and the pain of the Earth itself as it suffers the violence caused by human greed and ignorance.

We must Change Hearts to Save the Earth from Global Warming.

Jerry greets the cubist egg containing performance artist Kesse Humphreys, before he emerges to dance and chant his compelling message.

Everyone hears the sweet call of the Universe, feels their heart beating and moves swiftly to do the right thing.

Paul Montigny of Streetbeets provides percussion accompaniment to the moment of suspense leading to the hatching of Kesse Humphreys and his emergence into the world.

Kesse hatches out of his incredible cubist egg, into the world.

BE THE CHANGE

(TAKE IT PERSONALLY)

Covered with the black dust of ashes and dirt, an exotic bird of black plumage rises to chant and dance “When the waters rise all around, forget not you have wings to fly!” — Kesse Humphreys

Kesse takes flight.

Ashes to Ashes

Resurrect

In the New Earth

Resurrection of the Phoenix.

From pain come the vision

From the vision come the people

From the people come the power

From their power come the change.

After the Phoenix flew, Chris Hoover Seidel calmed us with the melodious tones of her voice and the thoughtful notes of mystery and hope in her poetry.

We are listening to the “yes”

in yesterday.

We are composing an “or”

for tomorrow.

By touching the egg of the Phoenix, Kevin finds the courage to lead participants in a 3-part round, singing “White Coral Bells upon a slender stalk. Lilies of the valley deck my garden walk. Oh, don’t you wish that you could hear them ring? That will happen only when the faeries sing.” (We sang, and they rang!)

“Heal the Earth,” she said,

“Why?” he said.

“Because it’s the best use of the time we have left,” she responded.

“But isn’t that God’s job?” he asked.

“He never meant it to be this way” she said sadly.

Kevin leads a lively discussion about his 12 large canvases displayed in the sanctuary, and hears clues about some of the mysteries he has pondered in the paintings over the years.

First Snow Drops, crocus, Wind Flowers, Daffodils, Weeping Cherries, and Tulips. Soon Irises, Lilacs, and then the Roses of Summer.

Left to right, Kevin, Tovie Mirot and Fran Gouveia are part of the group discussing “Captain Agape” and “The Revelations of Eve and Adam.”

Clean Water for All and Future Generations…

Kevin hears the thoughts of Fran Gouveia and the rest of the group, about what the meaning might be in some of the symbols and images in “The Musician and the Tree of Life.”

I will knit green hats –

not green berets of the military

but soft, easy slouchy hats

All green, many hues,

for my planet-loving friends.

Will you wear a hat with me?

Church people stand straight!

I wear sneakers and love my

Seven Sunday weeks!

“Etz Chayim!”

(Tree of Life)

Kevin explains how he and Robert Allen collaborated to paint “Deep Woods.”

I pray “The Susquehanna is for Lovers (& ALL OTHERS!)” is Healing Earth’s Pain and Creator helps me (us) do it!

Kevin explains how he will expand this print of “Woodland Spirits” extensively to both sides and below, adding many more animals and figures to create a new painting called “Woodland Spirit Guides.” Behind him is “Apple Man.”

Greed is manmade. Money, debt, hatred, intolerance – They don’t come from the earth, but we do. Amidst all of the destruction and pain, still we are born. Still we come into this world filled with beauty and light. They frack our water, they poison our soil, they patent our food – and STILL we fight for justice – STILL we wake up and love the world all over again. Lucky enough to be young, wild, and free, happy healthy, loved. We still exist. There is something still right in this world if people like us continue to be born into it.

At the end of our healing time together, we all wrote out thoughts, haiku, poems, lamentations and intentions on colored papers and hung them on a tree in the courtyard. Here Rich Humphreys (center) reads his thought before adding it to the tree.

This Dandelion curled into a ring.

Reviled, More Delicate than gold and brown decay.

The mind wanders, Hope, base, distraction and despair.

Sounds good.

Jerry Lee Miller watches as all the participants share their writings and hang them on the Tree of Hopes and Blessings.

Blessed be the creator and the Creative Spirit that brings healing to our earth and our lives.

Rev. Jerry Lee Miller leads Streetbeets in a performance of his signature composition, “The Earth is a House,” as our benediction for “Healing Earth Pain Through the Arts,” and our beginning to Earth Day Weekend.

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Will Be Done

On Earth as it is in Heaven!

On this beautiful spring Earth Day evening, my wish for the world is that a miracle will happen and we will all wake up with the compelling conviction that we can arrest global climate change and save many of the life forms on Earth by immediately switching from fiossil fuel extraction and consumption to clean renewable energy. My prayer is that we will accept our moral responsibility to leave a habitable planet for future generations.

It is time to become our higher selves and take creative action for the sake of life on Earth.

Love, Wisdom, Peace, — Kevin

My thanks to Alison Stein for providing all the photos for this essay and for helping me so extensively with the logistics for my art display at “Healing Earth Pain Through the Arts.”

Our thanks to the Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster and its congregation for sharing their beautiful, sunlit facility with HIVE of Planet-Loving Activity to produce this event.

September 12, 2012

Many people in South-Central Pennsylvania are becoming increasingly aware of climate change after our extremely mild winter and news of the severe drought and loss of crops in the Midwest. Even climate change skeptics are beginning to ask questions. Climatologists and others involved in the earth sciences and nature conservation are urging a reduction in our dependence on fossil fuels. Internationally recognized climate change expert and author, Bill McKibben’s recent “Rolling Stone” articles on the subject have attracted hundreds of thousands of readers. Mr. McKibben will speak at F&M University’s Mayser Gymnasium this Thursday, September 13, at 11:30 a.m. (off College Ave, by W New Street.)

Bill McKibben is the author of a dozen books about the environment, beginning with The End of Nature in 1989, which is regarded as the first book for a general audience on climate change. He is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 189 countries since 2009. Time Magazine called him ‘the planet’s best green journalist’ and the Boston Globe said in 2010 that he was ‘probably the country’s most important environmentalist.’

Bill McKibben’s July 19, 2012 “Rolling Stone” article, “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math,” quotes leading climatologists who have determined that our environment can withstand a maximum rise of 3.6 degrees F. Unfortunately, the earth’s climate has already warmed 1.4 degrees F, and there is another 1.4 degrees F of inertial warming built in to the system, even if we cease all CO2 emissions today. Most scientists agree that we can release a maximum of 565 Gigatons of CO2 by 2050, but at our current rate of emissions, we will reach that limit by 2028. Finally, there are 2,795 Gigatons of CO2 in proven oil and coal reserves that companies and countries are planning to extract and burn — five times the maximum limit we can safely emit by mid-century.

In response to Bill McKibben’s reporting, three Lancaster area men have formed a local group, called the HIVE, to take action and raise awareness about climate change. The Rev Jerry Lee Miller has been a minister in the Church of the Brethren for over 30 years. Kevin Miller is an artist and founder of Allen Miller Arts in Lancaster, and a business consultant to Fortune 500 companies for 22 years. Spencer Johnson is an environmental studies and creative writing student at F&M University, a friend of Bill McKibben, and co-president of F&M’s Environmental Action Alliance. The “HIVE of Planet-Loving Activity” (see their page on FaceBook) will offer a follow-up meeting after Bill McKibben’s visit, on Friday, Sept 14, 7:30 p.m. at Allen Miller Arts, 117 E Chestnut St., at Duke, Lancaster, featuring three speakers and break out group discussions thereafter.

Rev. Jerry Lee Miller chaired a meeting of the “HIVE of Planet-Loving Activity” on Sept 8, 2012, at Allen Miller Arts, to plan ways to support and amplify Bill McKibben’s message during and after his presentation at F&M University, Sept 13, 2012

According to Rev. Jerry Lee Miller, climate change is humanity’s ultimate moral issue: “Violent climate disruptions continue. The right and responsible thing to do is face up to the challenge… We must take action to protect our children and our neighbors… What other business gets to dump their garbage into our air and water for free…while we all pay for it with disruption to the climate (droughts, violent storms, etc.), children ill with asthma, oceans growing more acidic, wells poisoned, farmer’s land taken by eminent domain and our grandchildren’s very future threatened? Anyone know who I’m talking about? We can do better, can’t we now?”

Spencer Johnson is an environmental studies and creative writing student at F&M University and Co-President of the Environmental Action Alliance.

Spencer Johnson is excited to host Bill McKibben at F&M University on Thursday:“Climate change is more important than anything else in my life. The reason for that is simple; it impacts everything around me. My family, my friends, my future. Biologist Paul Ehrlich once said: ‘When species are removed from an Eco-system (due to climate change) it’s like removing the rivets on an airplane. At some point, the plane will fall apart.’ Following Ehrlich’s view, we have to remember that we’re on what many ecologists refer to as ‘spaceship earth,’ a vessel traveling through space and time, dependent on its crew for survival. We’re removing rivets from our spacecraft at an alarming pace and soon we’re going to be stranded with nowhere else to go. Bill McKibben understands this and has become so involved that he is now one of the greatest faces associated with fighting climate change. That’s why Bill is so important. Because he saw what was happening and he acted. He founded 350.org, he’s spoken at hundreds of places all over the world, and he’s out there to make a difference. He’s an inspiration to people like me who aren’t really sure where they’re going in life, but know they want to do something that will make a difference for the better of humanity. It just goes to show that everyone, whether a writing major or business major, can participate in environmental conservation and practice sustainability, and if they really put their mind to the task, they can make great things happen.”

Kevin Miller, artist and business consultant, shown here with his junk art “Rose Window” made of plastic bottles, is co-founder of Allen Miller Arts with Robert Allen

Kevin Miller has been thinking about future generations: “It no longer matters whether or not we think that climate change is caused by human activity. We can all agree that, for whatever reason, dangerous warming is occurring. Everyone must work together to reverse that deadly trend so that our children and grandchildren and all animals and plants will have a safe and healthy place to live.”

Bill McKibben’s 11:30 a.m. presentation at F&M University, Mayser Gymnasium, Thursday Sept 13, is a unique opportunity for the Lancaster community to learn more about climate change. The follow-up meeting, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Allen Miller Arts, 117 E Chestnut St, at Duke, Lancaster, PA, will give everyone a chance to ask questions, discuss the climate crisis and consider what we can do.

May 17, 2012

Above: Detail from a canvas in the featured exhibit at ALLEN MILLER ARTS: “Homage to Pollock — Paintings by Robert F. Allen.” Also on exhibit: “Connect the Dots of Extreme Weather and Climate Change” by Kevin Miller.

Join us at ALLEN MILLER ARTS for Open Mic Music & Poetry Night, Friday, May 18, 7:00-9:30

Jerry Lee Miller will be the emcee. Free entrance, snacks and sodas or water. Possible performers include Amanda Wells, Joseph Strider, STREETBEETS and many others. Come and share your music and poetry or enjoy the evening as part of the audience.

August 5, 2009

Dreams about momentous events happening in the sky have visited me all my life — a vast net descending upon the entire nation from space — or — many enormous futuristic air tankers falling out of the sky all at once into an urban landscape. In my dreams the people are electrified, thrilled and concerned, as they are in this painting. But the dogs — thank God for the dogs — are filled only with wonder and delight. Six dogs live with me at Sawmill Run. They and the sky out here in the woods show me new revelations every day.